PDP Sacks Sheriff, Appoints Ex-Governor Makarfi as Interim Chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to throw up the political fireworks with news that its national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, has been sacked and former governor of Kaduna State , Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi appointed interim chairman.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that former Anambra State senator, Ben Obi, was appointed interim secretary of the caretaker committee that will pilot the affairs of the party for three months.

This is coming after the party’s scheduled national convention in Port Harcourt was cancelled following a parallel convention held by the Jerry Gana-led faction in Abuja the same day.

“The convention is not holding. Our leaders have been meeting since early in the morning and they finally resolved that the convention should be shelved until the court order issued is vacated,” a party delegate said.

He added that party bigwigs thought it wise that “efforts should be made to resolve all differences with the Jerry Gana group before a fresh national convention is held”.

“What we are hearing now is that former Governor Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ben Obi have been chosen as interim chairman and secretary.”

The decisions were reached at a high-powered meeting convened at the office of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, with reports that Modu Sheriff stormed out in disagreement.

“Governor Fayose said Sheriff should leave for a new caretaker chairman to take over, but Governor Wike said Sheriff should not be disgraced out of office just like that, that they should let him be chairman of the caretaker. The governors rejected Mr. Wike’s suggestion,” the source said.

“Sheriff was not happy with the development. In fact, he had to storm out of the venue of the meeting, angrily.”